Strictly Come Dancing star Len Goodman dies

24 April 2023, 10:01 | Updated: 24 April 2023, 10:11

Len Goodman in 2018 on TV's Dancing With The Stars. Picture: Kelsey McNeal/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

The judge of Strictly and Dancing With The Stars has died from bone cancer, aged 78.

Len Goodman has died following a short illness. It's being reported that the star had bone cancer.

The former Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing With The Stars judge passed away in a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on Saturday (22nd April) with his family by his bedside.

A spokeswoman for the star, who was 78 when he died, told MailOnline: "I can confirm he died peacefully over the weekend surrounded by his family".

His agent said in a statement: "A much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him.”

Len was a much-loved judge on Strictly after joining the show when it launched in 2004 and staying on the panel until 2016. As well as winning a legion of fans in the UK, he also became a big name in the US after joining the American version of the show, Dancing With The Stars. He remained with the series from 2005 until 2022.

Goodman started his career as a welder and only became interested in dancing when his doctor told him to take it up to help him recover from a foot injury.

Len went on to become a successful professional dancer winning titles including The British Exhibition Championships and the World Exhibition Championships and later continued his love of dance after retiring by forming the Goodman Dance Academy in Kent to help others achieve their dreams.

After finding fame on TV, he chronicled his rise to fame in his 2009 memoir Better Late Than Never: From Barrow Boy to Ballroom and went on to publish two more books - Len's Lost London and Dancing Around Britain.

He announced his retirement from Dancing With The Stars last year and on his final episode, he was presented with his own Mirrorball trophy.

Len said of the honour: "That is fantastic. 'It has been such a joy for me to have been part of Dancing With The Stars'. It really has. I've had such a wonderful time and this is absolutely the cherry on the cake."